Synthetic chord

Abstract

Synthetic chord devices and methods for using the same for connecting tissues are provided. Aspects of the synthetic chord device include a flexible cord having an attachment element at both a first and a second end, wherein each attachment element includes a piercing member coupled to a securing member that attaches the flexible cord to a first tissue. At least a portion of the flexible cord can be configured to be secured to a second tissue. Aspects of the invention also include sets of the synthetic chord device with pre-measured flexible cords. The devices and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications, such as in applications in which it is desired to repair a heart valve.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heart valve repair kit comprising:
 a first synthetic chord device comprising (a1) a premeasured flexible cord of a first length having a piercing member at each end, and (b1) a pledget; 
 a second synthetic chord device comprising (a2) a second premeasured flexible cord of a second length having a piercing member at each end, wherein the second length is different from the first length, and (b2) a second pledget; 
 a measuring device; 
 kit packaging; and 
 wherein at least one of said first synthetic chord device and said second synthetic chord device includes a flexible cord having a first end and a second end and a length ranging from 16 mm to 48 mm; a first attachment element at said first end of said cord configured to attach said cord to a first location at a first tissue, wherein said first attachment element comprises a first tissue piercing member that is configured to pierce through tissue and is releasably coupled to a first securing member having an open configuration and a loop shape closed configuration and configured to attach said cord to tissue in the closed configuration, wherein the first attachment element comprises a flexible member between the tissue piercing member and the securing member; a second attachment element at a second end of said cord configured to attach said cord to a second location at said first tissue, wherein said second attachment element comprises a second tissue piercing member that is configured to pierce through tissue and is releasably coupled to a second securing member having an open configuration and a loop shape closed configuration and configured to attach said cord to tissue in the closed configuration, wherein the second attachment element comprises a flexible member between the tissue piercing member and the securing member; wherein said securing member of each of said first and second attachment elements is a self-closing fastener and at least a portion of said cord between said first end and said second end is configured to be secured to a second tissue and comprises a pledget that is fixed in position on the flexible cord. 
 
     
     
       2. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the kit further comprises additional synthetic chord devices. 
     
     
       3. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the premeasured flexible cords has a length ranging from 8 to 60 mm. 
     
     
       4. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the premeasured flexible cords has a length ranging from 16 to 48 mm. 
     
     
       5. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic chord device is color coded. 
     
     
       6. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the pledget is affixed to the first premeasured flexible cord. 
     
     
       7. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the pledget is slidably mounted on the first premeasured flexible cord. 
     
     
       8. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the pledget comprises an antithrombotic component or a coating that releases one or more substances selected from the group consisting of an anticoagulant, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory agent, and combinations thereof, into a patient's blood. 
     
     
       9. A heart valve repair kit comprising:
 a first synthetic chord device comprising (a1) a premeasured flexible cord of a first length having a piercing member at each end, and (b1) a pledget; 
 a second synthetic chord device comprising (a2) a second premeasured flexible cord of a second length having a piercing member at each end, wherein the second length is different from the first length, and (b2) a second pledget; 
 a measuring device; 
 kit packaging; and 
 wherein at least one of said first synthetic chord device and said second synthetic chord device includes a flexible cord having a first end and a second end and a length ranging from 16 mm to 48 mm; a first attachment element at said first end of said cord configured to attach said cord to a first location at a first tissue, wherein said first attachment element comprises a needle releasably coupled to a self-closing fastener having an open configuration and a loop shape closed configuration and configured to attach said cord to tissue in the closed configuration, wherein the first attachment element comprises a flexible member between the tissue piercing member and the self-closing fastener; a second attachment element at a second end of said cord configured to attach said cord to a second location at said first tissue, wherein said second attachment element comprises a needle releasably coupled to a self-closing fastener having an open configuration and a loop shape closed configuration and configured to attach said cord to tissue in the closed configuration, wherein the second attachment element comprises a flexible member between the tissue piercing member and the self-closing fastener; 
 wherein at least a portion of said cord between said first end and said second end is configured to be secured to a second tissue and comprises a pledget that is fixed in position on the flexible cord. 
 
     
     
       10. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the kit further comprises additional synthetic chord devices. 
     
     
       11. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the premeasured flexible cords has a length ranging from 8 to 60 mm. 
     
     
       12. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the premeasured flexible cords has a length ranging from 16 to 48 mm. 
     
     
       13. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the synthetic chord device is color coded. 
     
     
       14. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the pledget is affixed to the first premeasured flexible cord. 
     
     
       15. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the pledget is slidably mounted on the first premeasured flexible cord. 
     
     
       16. The heart valve repair kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the pledget comprises an antithrombotic component or a coating that releases one or more substances selected from the group consisting of an anticoagulant, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory agent, and combinations thereof, into a patient's blood.